Team USA Wins Gold! Cartel Violence In Mexico And Fallout From SCOTUS' Tariff Decision
·45 min·10 clips
This episode of Breitbart News Daily covers Team USA's hockey victory, major cartel developments in Mexico, and the fallout from a Supreme Court tariff decision. Host Mike Slater is joined by Breitbart's Border Director Brandon Darby and Business Editor John Carney. The discussion begins by framing sports, like the Olympic gold win, as a core part of culture, which Breitbart sees as upstream of politics.
Brandon Darby details the reported death of Cartel Jalisco leader El Mencho following a gun battle in Jalisco. He explains that a Mexican military team, trained by U.S. Navy SEALs and sequestered to prevent leaks, carried out the operation. Darby asserts that for years, the Mexican government protected El Mencho by only handing over his rivals to the U.S. He claims the U.S. pressured Mexico by threatening unilateral action, referencing recent boat strikes against Venezuelan drug traffickers as a warning. The aftermath has seen cartel violence erupt across at least 13 Mexican states, including over 200 roadblocks. Darby describes Cartel Jalisco as a paramilitary force possessing weaponry like man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS). He compares the event to D-Day in the drug war, suggesting it could fragment the cartel into weaker regional groups long-term. John Carney analyzes the Supreme Court's 6-3 decision striking down President Trump's use of the AIPA law for tariffs. He notes the administration anticipated this and immediately shifted to implementing tariffs under Section 122 authorities. Carney explains these alternative statutes, like Section 232 and 301, require lengthy studies and offer less negotiation flexibility than AIPA. He lists companies like Toyota, Costco, and BYD that have sued for tariff refunds, a procedural move to preserve their rights.
A surprising claim is Darby's statement that major media outlets pay cartel-connected fixers for safe passage to report in their territories, which Breitbart refuses to do. He reveals his long-term fear was that U.S. action would push Mexico toward China, making this cooperative outcome the "best thing imaginable." Carney offers a counterintuitive insight that the struck-down tariffs still succeeded by forcing trading partners like Japan and the EU into new deals, which they are honoring. He contends President Trump could replace the tariff revenue with a licensing fee system, a point he argues the President may have underestimated. A memorable moment is Darby's rare excitement, which Slater compares only to his reaction to the Team USA hockey win. Carney humorously critiques New York City's "remote learning snow day" fiasco from a prior storm, praising Mayor Adams for declaring a traditional snow day this time.
The tone is conversational, celebratory of conservative policy wins, and adversarial towards liberal media and politicians. The style blends breaking news analysis with advocacy, emphasizing Breitbart's role in influencing policy. This episode would appeal to listeners interested in border security, cartel dynamics, trade policy, and a pro-Trump perspective on current events. Those opposed to the network's political stance or seeking neutral, in-depth economic or foreign policy analysis might skip it.
